Fluid medium propelled and rotated apparatus for cleaning the inside of pipes



FLUID MEDIUM PRbPELLED AND ROTATED APPARATUS N 1951 D K. STEPHENS 2,576,197

FOR CLEANING THE INSIDE OF PIPES Filed 001;. 26, 1944 ISnnentor (Ittumegs Patented Nov. 27, 1951 FLUID MEDIUM PROPELLED AND ROTATED APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE INSIDE OF PIPES Dishman K. Stephens, Kansas City, Kane, 35- signor to Panhandle Eastern Pipe Lin'e}Gom-' pany, Kansas City, Mo., acorporationornelaware Application'october 26, 1944, swarm. 560,396.

Claims.

This invention relates to pipe cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to a so-called godevil for cleaning pipe lines employed for transrnitting fluid such as natural gas.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide for freeing the interior walls of the pipe lines of mill scale, dust, sand, products of corrosion, and other extraneous material, by wiping, scouring, polishing and similar actions as an incident to passing a go-devil constructed in accordance with the present invention through a pipe line to be cleaned.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide for use of a motive fluid, such as natural gas ordinarily in the pipeline to be cleaned, as the power for driving the go-devil through the line and to make the go-devil regulative of the how of motive fluid in such a manner as to utilize portions of the fluid for propelling the go-devil and line debris ahead ofthe go-devil, respectively; to provide for ejection of the motive fluid from the go-devil tangentially thereof; to provide for passing the go-devil and the relative parts thereof over obstructions in the line; to provide for rotating the go-devil as it passes through the line; to provide for maintaining wiping contact of the cleaning portions of the go-devil relative to the pipe'surface being cleaned; and to provide improved elements and-arrangements of elements in an apparatus of this character.

In' accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the'preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of the go-devil embodying'the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a three-quarter, longitudinal, crosssectional View of the go-devil.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional View taken on a line 3--3, Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a go-devil constructed in accordance with the preferred form of invention, consisting of a body section 2 preferably tubular in form, and substantially circular conformation having a tapered forward end 3, terminating in a nose i, and having an outwardly extending handle or the like 5 provided With a ring 6 for handling of the device. The tubular body 2 is provided at substantially the center thereof with a Wall"! dividing'the tubular body 2 into chambers Band9.

The chambers of the body isprovided'with a plurality of openings l0 aroundthe outer circumferenceithereof adapted'to receive a plurality ofnozzles l'l secu'red theret'oby welding or other a plurality of nozzles I 3 extending inwardly from the" outer circumference of said body as illustrated in Fig. 3. The" tapered portion 3- of the chamber 9 is also provided with a plurality of openings M near thenose'4 of the body adaptedto receive a'plurality of nozzles secured in said opening also'by welding or other suitable mariner,

and extending outwardly around the outerjcir It will be noted that the nozzles H and P5 are secured to cumference of said tapered portions.

thebody at an angle around the outer circumference and'are all extending in the same direc tion. The plurality of nozzles 13 extending inwardly in the chamber 3 of the body are also at an angle fora purpose later described.

Extending around theouter circumferenceof thebo'dy 2', and preferably around the ch-amber are a series of annular flanges l8-l9, also extending around the outer circum ference' of the chamber 8 ofthebody 2 are flanges 2lland 2 I. The flanges t6 and 2| are suitably secured to the body as bywelding and the flanges ll, l8and 20 are slidable on said body and are placed the'reon before the'flanges t6 and'ZI are secured. Located between the series of flanges, iii-IT, l8l9, and 2ll2l,. are wiping elements 22, 23, and 24, preferably consisting of wire brushes orthe like, capable o'fimparting abrasive action to the interior or the pipe for removing mill scale, dust, sand, products of corrosion and the like, therefrom and otherwise efficiently cleaning the same. The wiping elements or brushes 22, 23, and 24, are preferably mounted in any suitablemanner on cylindrical members 25, 26, and 21, adapted to engage around the body member 2 and be held between the flanges by bolts or the like 23 and 28, through suitable openings'therein.

I also arrange around the outer circumference of the chamber 9 of 'the body, preferably between the nozzles Hand 15, flanges30 and 3|, flanges! being secured to the body by welding and flange the go-devil and secured thereto by an orifice plate 35 and the bolts 29. It will be noted that the outer circumference of each of the squeegees is tapered slightly from the nose 4 of the body to the rear portion, asbest illustrated in Fig. 2, to aid in passage of the go-devil through the pipe over any obstruction that might occur therein.

Operation of thedevice constructed and assembled as described is:

The go-devil is placed with the nose 4 headed into a pipe line and gas pressure or other motive 4 7 from the nose of said body, whereby the motive fluid entering said body will be discharged tangentially from said body for rotating said apparatus as it is propelled through said pipe by the motive fluid.

2. In a pipe cleaning apparatus of the character described, an elongated tubular body having a closed forward end forming a nose, said body fluid may be applied behind the go-devil through the orifice in plate 35 into the chamber 8 of v the body 2, forcing the go-devil through the pipe and the motive fluid entering the chamber 8 discharges therefrom through the nozzles ll.v

the chamber 9 and then outwardly through the nozzles 15 in the nose of the body of the godevil. 'Ihe squee-gee 32' will prevent the dirt from going backward so that it will be carried ahead of the go-devil. It will be noted that the outwardly extending nozzles II- and I5 are preferably arranged tangentially to the longitudinal axis of the body of the go-devil in such a manner as to deflect motive fluid emerging therefrom and effect a rotating action of the go-devil so that the brushes will act on debris and loosen it from the pipe and throw it against the walls of the pipe to aid in cleaning, scouring and polishing the pipe, as well as to cause the go-devil to rotate as it progresses through a pipe line, the nozzles directing the gas tangentially from the central core of the body of the device. The nozzles directed inwardly of the chamber 9 are also arranged tangentially from the central core of the device which will provide agitation to keep the particles removed from the pipe moving with the fluid inside the pipe. The squee-gees 32 and 34 also maintain a differential in pressure between the two to keep the go-devil moving through the pipe line.

While I have described my invention as being adapted specifically for the cleaning of pipes and pipe lines, it will be obvious that it may be used for other purposes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will also be obvious from the foregoing that to receive a motive fluid for passage of said apparatus through a pipe to be cleaned, brushes mounted on' said body adjacent to the respective chambers, a plurality of nozzles extending outwardly from said rear chamber and tangentially thereto, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially inwardly in the front chamber, and a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially outward sage of said apparatus through a pipe to be cleaned, a plate dividing said body into front and rear chambers, brushes mounted on said body adjacent to the respectivechambers, a plurality of nozzles extending outwardly from said rear chamber and tangentially of the center thereof, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially inwardly in the front chamber, means on the respective ends of said body for maintaining differential in pressure between the front and rear ends of said body, and a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially outward from the nose of said body, whereby the motive fluid entering said body will be discharged tangentially from the core of said body to rotate said apparatus as 'it is propelled through said pipe by the motive fluid;

3. In a pipe cleaning apparatus of the character described an elongated tubular body having a closed forward end forming a nose, said body being adapted to receive a motive fluid for passage of said apparatus through a pipe to be cleaned, a plate dividing said body into front and rear chambers, annular brushes mounted on said body adjacent to the respective chambers, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially out-.

wardly from said rear chamber between said brushes, a plurality of nozzles extended tangentially inwardly in the front chamber, a pluralityof nozzles extending tangentially outwardly from the nose of said body, whereby the motive fluid entering said body will be discharged from all of said nozzles tangentially from said body, and tangentially outwardly from the third named nozzle to rotate said apparatus as it is propelled.

through said pipe by the motive fluid, and means on said body for maintaining differential in pres-,

fluid for passage of said apparatus through a.

pipe to be cleaned, a plate dividing said body into front and rear chambers, annular brushes mounted on said body adjacent to the respective chambers, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially outwardly from said rear chamber between said brushes, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially inwardly in the front chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially outwardly from the nose of said body, whereby the motive fluid entering said body will be discharged from all of said nozzles tangentially from said body, and tangentially outwardly from the fluid means to rotate said apparatus as it is propelled through said pipe by the motive fluid, and rubber rings on said body for maintaining differential in pressure between the respective ends of said apparatus.

5. Pipe cleaning apparatus adapted to be propelled through a pipe by pressure of a fluid medium comprising, an elongated tubular body having an open rear end and a closed front end, said body having a passage for passing a fluid medium therethrough, cleaning means mounted on said 5 body, a plurality of flexible means on said body in longitudinally spaced relation and adapted for wiping contact with the inner surface of the pipe for maintaining differential in pressure between the front and rear ends of the body, and nozzles disposed annularly on the front end of the body and having communication with the passage in the body for discharging the fluid medium tangentially of the body for rotating said apparatus as it is propelled through said pipe, said body having apertures therein intermediate the flexible means for passage of fluid medium to the exterior of the body and through the cleaning means for removing loose material therefrom.

DISHMAN K. STEPHENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 812,361 Pickles et a1. Feb. 13, 1906 1,006,187 Edmonds Oct. 17, 1911 1,448,876 Sladden Mar. 20, 1923 1,835,119 Oberhuber Dec. 8, 1931 1,866,556 Frank July 12, 1932 2,087,414 Schaer July 20, 1937 2,188,959 Schaer Feb. 6, 1940 2,232,358 Baerer Feb. 18, 1941 2,315,133 Riney et al. Mar. 30, 1943 

